There is no ‘GREY AREA’ as you suggest, that is only because someone does not take the trouble to look it up. You’d better believe it when I say that where specific copyright notices are on display on a web site, downloading, using the material – particularly images – in any way whatsoever is abusing the copyright of that ‘author’ UNLESS it is out of copyright ie 70 years after his/her death. If you doubt what I say take a look at the current USA prcatice of fining people for misuse of copyrighted images upto $50,000.

The Internet does not have any different rules that allow theft of material on the spurious assumption or assertion that you are doing the author ‘a good turn’.

In the same way that if you leave the front door open to your house – or cell – whichever applies, that is NOT an open invitation for anyone to enter and help themselves to your property. If someone does, then that is theft and is accountable in law. Insurance companies would never pay up because of ‘get out clauses’ stipulating evidence of break in. There is a widely held belief that one set of copyright rules applies to everyday life and another should apply to what is available on the internet.

Amongst other things, the Internet is a shop window for goods and if those goods are ‘chained down’ the owner is making it very clear that they are not there to be removed. If I place something on the net then remove it, in no way would one of your bloggers be a legally entitled to reproduce it ANYWHERE, should they so wish, using their pirated version. What you are inplying is that people should help them selves to material – any material, and push it around as they wish instead of confining it to their own use – not so on under the present law and a very dangerous assumption to make in the present climate.

Given that this is much the same as items 4, 7, 9 & 10, and that it’s been a few weeks since the post, I’m wondering if there are any tools that can assist the process I’ve described.